A Portville, N.Y., man accused of robbing the Kwik Fill in Bradford Township during a two-state crime spree has been arraigned on the Pennsylvania charges.
Chase H. Lotter, 28, appeared for arraignment Thursday before District Judge Richard Luther. Lotter is charged with three counts of robbery, two first-degree felonies and one third-degree felony; terroristic threats and theft by unlawful taking, first-degree misdemeanors; recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor; and loitering and prowling at night time, a third-degree misdemeanor.
Lotter is currently serving a 10-year sentence in New York state prison for numerous crimes. He had been charged for crimes that occured between July 22 and July 30 in Allegany County, N.Y., including two robberies and multiple burglaries and thefts.
The McKean County allegations happened the next day, on July 31, while Lotter was on the lam for the Allegany County crimes.
According to the criminal complaint, at 10:14 p.m. July 31, the McKean County 911 Center dispatched Bradford Township police to the Kwik Fill at 713 South Ave. for a report of a robbery involving a knife.
The store attendant told police that Lotter arrived at the store on foot, walking from the south. Inside, the attendant went to process the sale of a Red Bull energy drink that Lotter had taken from the cooler, when Lotter told him to give him all the money in the cash register, according to the complaint.
The employee refused at first, but Lotter told him his daughter was being held at gunpoint and would be shot if he didn’t give Lotter the money, the complaint indicated. Lotter also allegedly threatened to stab the employee, brandishing what appeared to be a small kitchen knife with a wooden handle.
When the employee continued to refuse, Lotter walked around the counter, noticed the key in the register, pushed the employee out of the way and took money, stealing an estimated $332.62, the complaint stated. He fled the store, heading south.
Court records indicated that police used a trained canine to track the scent south through the yards of private homes to Minard Run Road, where police believe Lotter had a vehicle parked.
Lotter was arrested Aug. 1 in the Rochester, N.Y., area.
Lotter is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail, and he is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Thursday.
